Courting Song- Otis Williams (AR) 1958 Hunter A
[From Max Hunter Folk Song Collection, no date given. Cat. #1429 (MFH #473)
Listen: https://maxhunter.missouristate.edu/songinformation.aspx?ID=1429
See also Ozark Folksong Collection.
R. Matteson 2017]
Courting Song- sung by Otis Williams, Wesley, Arkansas in 1958.
VERSE 1
Madam, I have come a courting
An' some favors, for to gain
If you'll entertain me very kindly
I shall, will come again, again
I shall, will come again, again."
"Yes, I know you'll come a courting
An' some favors for t' gain
I'll entertain you very kindly
If you'll never come again
If you'll never come again."
VERSE 2
"Madam, I have a very fine field
Full forty acres wide
And it shall be at your command
If you will be my bride, bride
If you will be my bride."
O, yes, I know your very fine field
With clover at the foot
If you were mine I'd turn you in
I'm sure a hog would root, root
I'm sure a hog would root
VERSE 3
Madam, I've come to marry you
An' settle in your town
I will to you my house an' 'state
Tis worth ten thousand pounds, pounds
Tis worth ten thousand pounds
You'll will me your house an' 'state
As you design to do
I'd have enough of everything
An' what'd I want to you, you
An' what'd I want of you
VERSE 4
Madam, you are a scornful date
An' some what hard to please
When you grow old an' chilled with cold
I hope that you will freeze
I hope that you will freeze
When I grow old an' chilled with cold
That you that'll keep me warm
Therefore, I think it my very best plan
To keep myself from harm, harm
To keep myself from harm
VERSE 5
You can keep your rosy cheeks
An' I will keep my land
An' you can keep your black cunning eyes
To roll them round an' round
To roll them around.
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Ozark Folk Song Collection- Collected by Ruth Jolly and Don Stone For Mary C. Parler Transcribed by Frances Majors
"Courting Song." Sung by Otis Williams Wesley, Arkansas December 4, 1958 Reel 263, Item 13
Madam, I have come a-courting,
And some favors for to gain.
If you will entertain me very kindly,
I soon will come again, again,
I soon will come again.
Yes, I know you've come a-courting,
And some favors for to gain.
I'll entertain you very kindly,
If you'll never come again, again,
If you'll never come again.
Madam, I have a very fine field,
Fourteen acres wide;
And it shall be at your command
If you will be my bride, bride,
If you will be my bride.
Oh, yes, I know you've a very fine field
With clover at the foot.
If you were mine I would turn you in,
For I'm sure a hog would root, root,
For I'm sure a hog would root.
Madam, I've come to marry you And settle in your town. I'll will to you my whole estate Worth ten thousand pounds, pounds, 'Tis worth ten thousand pounds. If you will will to me your whole estate, As you design to do, I'll have enough of everything, And what'd I want of you, you, And what'd I want of you. Madam, you are a scornful jade And somewhat hard to please. When you grow old and killed with cold, I hope that you will freeze, freeze, I hope that you will freeze. Courting (Cont'd) Reel 263, Item 13 (Cont'd) When I grow old and killed with cold And not you there to keep me warm, Therefore, I think it my very best plan To keep myself from harm, harm, To keep myself from harm. You can keep your red rosy cheeks, And I will keep my land. And you can keep your bright shining eyes, So roll them round and round, So roll them round.